"I can't complain about my D-I shortstops," Gentile said. "They both have similarities in that they were both good, but that is where it ends. Carrie is a bunter, runner and base-stealer. She is quick all over the place, whereas Mary was a power hitter and a solid defender. Both of them have been anchors of the team since I have been coaching."

"I looked up to her as a middle-school player and as a freshman. She was the best player I had seen thus far," Maniccia said of Dombrowski. "My goal was to be as good as her as a senior. I have worked really hard to get where I am. I am not quite the power hitter she was."

Bethlehem captured Section II Class AA titles in both 2011 and 2014.

The Eagles (14-9) have a huge task upcoming Friday in the state quarterfinals against Section III champion Liverpool (22-1) at Malta Rec.

"My goal the minute after we lost last year in the championship was to come back stronger and win the championship. The fact that we've done it is unbelievable," said Maniccia, a Section II all-star and first team Suburban Council selection. "I could not have asked for a better senior season. Although we had our ups and downs during the season, being able to meld together has been spectacular."

"This is her dream scenario: how you want your high school career to end," Gentile said. "Not just because of the championship, but because these girls grew up together playing and to be able to get it done with them is probably how Carrie would have drawn it up. It is perfect."

Maniccia's ability to be a disruptive force at the top of the Eagles' lineup has been vital to the team's success. So has her ability to help the new starters at third, second and first base.

"She is a patient girl. She knew the talent we had would take some time to gel," Gentile said. "She is the one that keeps the energy up when we've had hard times. She is always up for every game, not that the others are not. Really, she is the player that wants to win the most.

"She is a quiet leader, a leader by example that has high expectations for herself and holds herself to them," Gentile added. "She always encourages her teammates and works with them if they ask her to. In terms of work ethic, she works the hardest on the team and the others follow her example."

As much as Maniccia sees Dombrowski as a softball inspiration, she never tried to pattern her game around a player completely different than herself.

"I think playing to my strengths, instead of trying to change my weaknesses, has been my key," Maniccia said.